Category: Writing

Where did it all come from?

Posted on by Jo Anne
Stokpic at Pexels

It’s really interesting to me to see where things go and from where they came.

I have another sleepy blog called Food Loves Company and I accidentally stumbled on it the other day.  It was a joint collaboration and I reached out to my friend Angela who thought it might be a good idea, or at least kind of fun, if we revived it.

But in all of that, I discovered a number of other blogs, including a self-hosted blog that seems to be a little troublesome at the moment.  These include The Beatnik Neatnik, where I had hoped to rediscover myself as a truly organized being.  (That’s comedy gold right there!).  It also included Coffee Is My Kryptonite – my latest blogging venture which has been hibernating since April – when I was almost done with my first ever Whole30.  And of course, the self-hosted Thinkin’ Guruvee – which simply had some thoughts and musings from various times when I felt inspired to write.  It also included this lovely spot – noms ‘n’ knits.

Now you may be wondering why I didn’t create links to all of these – and I’ll tell you.  It’s because I actually combined them all to this one blog.  You’ll notice that there are a ton of posts now.  Including three pages that could serve as “about me” pages.  (If you’re a writer, or feeling generous with your time, let me know if you’re interested in helping me condense all those thoughts into one “about” page – with a clever title.  I like clever.)

Anyway, I am hoping to actually DO something with this blog.  I have big plans for my crafting…and my cooking.  And the bulk of my crafting will come from knitting.

That is all.

For now.

Gratitude Challenge: Day 5

Posted on by Jo Anne

I’m a day late with this one.  Sunset Slufter, TexelThat’s how it begins. The Fail.  Hopefully, I can turn that around.  Here goes.

“Take five minutes to write about how grateful you are for all of the wonderful things that you currently have in
your life. Don’t long for what you don’t possess—instead, take stock of all the blessings you already enjoy.”

There are a ton of things I am grateful for, and admittedly, I don’t always consider them. I have a job. I have a wonderful family; a husband and three very smart and talented daughters. I have a roof over my head. I am able to put more than a $0.50 box of pasta on the table to feed them. I have countless friends who are always willing to lend a hand and help when needed. I have a meaningful life story. I have life.

Gratitude Challenge: Day 3

Posted on by Jo Anne

“Write about something you feel grateful for in your life today.”

There are so many things I could write about that I am grateful for. Yesterday, I made a list. Tomorrow will be something different.

What am I grateful for? The freedom to make choices. I was just telling my friend today that every choice I have made has led me to where I am right now. I couldn’t be happier with my life if I had planned it this way. It has its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change a thing from the way it is RIGHT NOW.no regrets

Gratitude Challenge: Day 2

Posted on by Jo Anne

Ornamental alphabet“Use the alphabet as a fun and quick format for making a list of things for which you feel grateful. Share this list
with your social network through email, a blog post or a Facebook or MySpace page.”

Autumn is my favorite time of year.  It makes me think of most of the things on this list.
I love to read books.  They are such a great escape, and I am fascinated by the imagination of others; from picturing scenery in my head, to imagining that something unheard of could be possible.
Comfort foods really are fall foods for me.  Mashed potatoes, backed mac and cheese, Clam Chowder, Corn Chowder, heavy pastas.  All the foods that are just too heavy to eat in the summer (ok, they really aren’t but they are so much more welcome in the fall!!!)
One of the activities that really kicks into gear in the fall is Dance.  Whether it’s choreography, class or rehearsal, I love to watch my daughter dance.
I am so thankful for the Education that my parents were able to so lovingly provide.  They put up with my passion, as well as my problems, and ultimately, I think I turned out ok.

Ok, I started out trying to make this a nice, well-written post, incorporating my alphabetical appreciation, but that’s not working for me.

Here’s the rest:

F-Fandoms – I love Fandoms.  I have found the Harry Potter Fandom, the Dr. Who fandom, and all the others I follow to be entertaining, and helping the “legends live on”
G-Gymnastics – My daughter is thoroughly enjoying gymnastics.  She has gained not only physical strength and resilience, but ambition, and stick-to-it-iveness that she might not have otherwise gained.
H-Hearing – I like hearing.  I think I am losing my hearing.  Which makes me like my hearing even more.
I-Iced Tea – This is my favorite drink.  It doesn’t matter how cold it is out.  I love it.
J-Jiffy-pop – Well, my microwave is dead.  And I don’t have any other means to pop corn.  So Jiffy-pop is the only way for me to get my popcorn fix when I’m not at home.
K-Knitting – love knitting. It’s one of my many creative outlets.
L-Laughter – one of my favorite things to do. A good laugh can be a true pick me up.
M-Music – my first love
N-Northeastern University – my alma mater.
O-Origami Owl – my side business.
P-Potter, Harry Potter – how can I not be grateful for this????
Q-Quilting –  another creative outlet I thoroughly enjoy.
R-Ravelry – a great community where I can find great knitting patterns.
S-Soccer – My daughter’s favorite sport. Keeps her busy and active.
T-Takei, George – he makes me laugh
U-Unicorns – I thank the unicorn for the green alligators and long necked geese, the humpy backed camels and the chimpanzees, the cats and rats and elephants…
V-Vacation –  it is rare and wondrous fun.
W-Water – it’s my liquid life
X-Xylophones – they make music, and they start with X.
Y-YouTube – it entertains me
Z-Zoos – they contain animals

Goals and Opportunities

Posted on by Jo Anne

Blogging?After suffering some unneeded stress earlier this week – totally not even worth going into – I began wondering if there truly is a low-stress option.   Let me rephrase that.  I began wondering if there truly is a VIABLE low-stress work option; one that won’t leave me destitute, and telling my kids they can no longer dance, take gymnastics, or play soccer.  There really isn’t.  Not without taking a year or two break from all that fun.

So I find myself doing what I always do.  Trolling Facebook and reading about all the things my friends are accomplishing in their every day lives, journeys (real or figurative) that they are embarking on and as always happens once or twice a week…I see a post from Typographical Era.  This is the home of a very good, long-time friend of mine.  He likes to read.  He likes good movies and television.  He likes to write.  He writes all the time.  But every now and then I find a typo – and I point it out.

Here is the conversation we had today.

——————————————————————–

PixelJo: “What does it take to truly stand out in today’s over crowed, fast paced world?”

PixelJo: 😛

PixelJo: Should that be ‘crowded’ or should i be asking you to define ‘over crowed?’

Aaron: you are my favorite editor!  when are we going to start working on our novels?

Aaron: seriously

——————————————————————–

Good question.  We’ve both had rumblings of ideas; plot bunnies that just sit and simmer.  Admittedly, some of mine haven’t gotten much past the “I want to write a different kind of love story” but some have a little more substance.  I started writing.  Once.  I stopped after three pages.

——————————————————————–

PixelJo:  I want to.  I REALLLY want to.  Need to get out of the rat race and do for ME.

Aaron: take me with you! 🙂

PixelJo: I wish we could find a way

Aaron: me too

Aaron: well at least i know one person reads my blog posts 🙂

——————————————————————–

If you haven’t done so yet, click that link to Typographical Era.  Look, there it is again.  You won’t be disappointed.  Aaron and Karli have done a wonderful job combining the works of two blog writers and making a single, well-branded website.  Do it so I’m not the only one reading their blog posts.  (I’m really not.  But go say hi.  They’ll love you for it!)

——————————————————————–

PixelJo: Did you start writing your novel?  What’s it going to be about?

Aaron: not even close, no

Aaron: so many ideas

PixelJo: So lets set a deadline to narrow down ideas and if we need to, we can set a deadline BEFORE that to come up with valid criteria for narrowing down

PixelJo: aka, I can see the following 3 subplots or whatever, leading off the main arc-ing plot or something like that.

Aaron: nice, taking action! i like it

PixelJo: Ok.  Criteria for narrowing down: 2 ideas by July 15. narrowing down novel ideas to 3 using our “approved” criteria by August 31.

Aaron: it’s on!  i agree to those deadline

——————————————————————–

So there it is.  Accountability.  To each other.  An opportunity to do something new and different.  Goals to achieve.  Wish me luck.

Step 1: Blog about it.  Make it known.  It is now known.